[CH.35] The author "Okome Takashi" and the illustrator "Spacium" (Part 3)
"I'm looking forward to the weekend!"
They headed to a nearby set meal restaurant near the office to have lunch together as a group of four.
The manager Mimasaka, who had been in high spirits since the morning, had caught their attention.
"Manager, you seem to be in a very good mood."
"Hehe, I've been eagerly waiting for something exciting. I've been waiting, and tomorrow is the day!"
"Oh, really? Can you tell us what it is?"
"I'd love to tell you, but... if I do, Hanamura might want to come too!"
"It seems like this event only allows up to three people to attend..."
"It's been planned for quite some time, so it's not like I excluded Hanamucchan on purpose."
I see... not only the director but also Nishina-san and Kuhou-san are going. It might be an event for women. Anyway, I'm busy on the weekends, so there's no need to inquire further. I can't say I want to go and make things awkward for the three of them.
"That's fine. Just tell me on Monday, okay?"
"Sure, of course!"
---
And that's what happened.
I can't believe I might run into a conflict at this event... It's dangerous; they might recognize me at this distance.
I have to make sure to wear a mask and sunglasses and make sure I'm not recognized... If it's just acquaintances with Spacium, I might be able to bluff my way through, but it would be bad if they found out that I'm the one who cooks rice.
Please, Spacium. Let's smoothly get through this!
"Nice to meet you. We're big fans of Spacium-sensei. It's an honor to meet you."
"Oh, th-thank you! Wow, you're all so beautiful that I got surprised."
Even Spacium couldn't hide his astonishment at the beauty of those three. I'll tease him later about stretching his nose for his wife.
"Then, I'll go by Mitsuki-chan, please. I really love Spesium-sensei's illustrations and look at them every day."
"For me, along with Mitsuki-chan's illustration, could you draw Taiichi-kun?"
"Is that okay, Nishina-san?"
"It's a token of gratitude to the director. But please let me take a photo."
"You two seem to be close. What about the black-haired girl over there?"
"Please draw Hoshito-kun, Mitsuki-chan's younger brother. I like it when he coolly smirks"
"Haha, you're saying the same thing as my wife."
Phew... It looks like we're going to make it through this without any issues.
A signing event is just routine work. There's limited time to interact with each person. I've finished signing, so this should be the end.
"Do all three of you live in Hamayama?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I'm also from Hamayama... Local fans must be happy, right?"
Spacium, you're making unnecessary small talk!
That's right, this guy is a simp. When a group of first-rate beauties appears in front of him, he would be interested.
"Um... We're big fans of Okome Takashi-sensei... Are you really close friends with Sensei?"
"Yeah, we're from the same hometown. We've been friends since high school."
Stop it! Don't give out unnecessary information!
"Um... Spacium-sensei, it's time."
"Wait, didn't I just hear Hanamucchan's voice!?"
How did she figure it out!? I even changed my tone just to be sure...!
Nishina-san started looking around anxiously. I need to finish quickly... and Kuhou-san is looking over here.
She might start saying that Hanamura-san and I look alike... I need to get her out of here!
"Do you guys want to meet Okome Takashi-sensei?"
"We do!"
Their voices overlapped. Oh... I'm really loved, huh? But it's not Hidaka Hanamura they want to meet; it's Okome Takashi, which makes it a bit complicated.
Wait! Spacium just grabbed my hand. Is he planning some kind of surprise, like revealing that he is Okome Takashi right here...!?
"These girls are incredibly beautiful. Get to know them; you won't regret it."
Not if they're coworkers!
With no time to spare, I pulled Spacium's hand with all my might. The pipe chair unexpectedly tilted backward, and Spacium fell backward onto the floor.
I pretended to take care of him on the ground and whispered to him quietly.
"Ouch, what are you doing?"
"Those girls are my coworkers! The ones I mentioned earlier, from my company! Three beautiful women!"
"What!? Seriously!?"
"Please, don't say anything unnecessary..."
I helped Spacium get back up, set the chair in place again, and had him sit down.
I turned away, thinking I couldn't handle this any longer.
"Uh... um... that..."
Specium, that guy... he's at a loss for words. He's stumbling over his words like he did when he once got in trouble with his wife for going to a brothel without telling her, almost getting kicked out of the house. At that time, I intervened and helped him, so now it's his turn to assist me.
"Could it be that we can meet Okome Takashi-sensei!?"
"What's Okome Takashi -sensei's real face like?"
"I want to catch a glimpse of Okome Takashi-sensei!"
"Okome Takashi is..."
Spacium-sensei stammered, his voice trembling, as if he were struggling to get the words out.
"Okome Takashi is!"
---
The following week, when I came to work on Monday, I saw three disheartened beauties.
"G-Good morning."
"Good morning, Hanamura."
I wondered if it was the result of the incident from the day before yesterday. All three of them were slumped over their desks.
"Hanamura-kun, so, the day before yesterday... there was a signing event with Specium-sensei. I talked to him a bit."
"Y-Yeah."
"And then he asked if you wanted to meet Okomegama-sensei. I got excited at the prospect, but then..."
"..."
"He said that Okome Takashi has a strange condition where he indiscriminately licks armpits when he sees a girl, so he couldn't introduce us."
Yeah, I know.
I later shouted, "What the hell did you just say?" in my head. I may incorporate my kinks into my works, but I sure as hell don't act them out in real life! I'm sorry... I couldn't say anything because my best friend started tearing up.
"Rumors say that Okome-sensei is quite the pervert, but it's shocking to see the reality. It's difficult to separate the creator from their work."
Please stop calling me a pervert.
"Nevertheless, I will continue to support Okome-sensei. When you think about it, only someone with a twisted mind like that could create such works. Yes, I'll support him. What about you, Nishina And Hinata?"
"I'll support him too! The work isn't at fault, even if he loves armpits."
"Me too! Even if he's a pervert!"
"Very well. Huh? Hanamura-kun, what's wrong?"
"Ah, I have a headache..."
I can no longer definitively deny that I am Okome Takashi. Maybe I should refrain from revealing my kinks.
After that, when I mentioned that I was restraining my kinks, I received an abnormal amount of concern from editors and readers. The theory that Okome Takashi had been taken over on the forum started circulating, and the creative world somehow became shaken. In the end, I decided to embrace my kinks after all.
Sigh... it's tough.
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This is idiotic.
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